Liquid coater for a printing press with moveable inking roller and tray

Abstract

The coating apparatus disclosed in this application is for a printing press having a recessed printing cylinder. The mechanism comprises a frame, a tray mounted on the frame for holding a supply of the coating material and roller means carried by the frame for transferring the liquid coating material from the tray to the printing cylinder. A pair of track members extend upwardly and rearwardly from the press and the frame is mounted on these tracks for movement toward and away from the printing press cylinder. Means is provided for moving the frame between its remote position and its position adjacent the printing press cylinder. The roller means and the tray are preferably mounted on a subframe which is pivotally mounted on the frame and means is provided for pivoting the subframe so that the roller means will move into position for engagement with the printing press cylinder after the frame has been moved into its position adjacent the cylinder. Means is also provided for positively locking the frame in its position adjacent the cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a printing press having a recessed printing press cylinder, a coater for applying a liquid coating material to the printing press cylinder, said coater comprising a frame, a tray mounted on said frame for holding a supply of coating material, roller means carried by said frame for transferring coating material from said tray to the printing press cylinder, track means attached to the printing press and extending from adjacent said printing press cylinder to a point remote from said printing press cylinder, frame moving means for moving said frame and said tray and roller means carried thereby along a first path defined by said track means into and out of position adjacent said printing press cylinder, and tray and roller moving means for moving said roller means along a second path which differs from and intersects said first path into and out of position for engagement with the printing press cylinder after said frame has been moved to its position adjacent said cylinder, whereby liquid coating material may be picked up from said tray and applied to said printing press cylinder by said roller means. 
     
     
       2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said track means comprising a pair of spaced parallel rectilinear tracks. 
     
     
       3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said tracks extend upwardly and rearwardly from adjacent said printing press cylinder. 
     
     
       4. The structure of claim 2 and further including frame locking means for locking said frame in position adjacent said printing press cylinder while permitting said tray and roller moving means to move said roller means transversely into and out of position for engagement with said printing press cylinder. 
     
     
       5. The structure of claim 1 wherein track-engaging roller means is provided on said frame for engaging said track means whereby said frame may be rollaby moved along said track means. 
     
     
       6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said frame moving means comprises first threaded means on said frame,   second threaded means on said track means in threaded engagement with said first threaded means,   drive means for rotating one of said threaded means relative to the other, whereby said frame may be selectively moved along said track means toward and away from adjacent said printing press cylinder.   
     
     
       7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said first threaded means comprises at least one internally threaded nut member, and said second threaded means comprises at least one externally threaded rod member. 
     
     
       8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said nut member is journalled for rotation on said frame, said rod member is mounted in fixed position relative to said track means, and said drive means is operatively connected to said nut member to selectively rotate said nut member relative to said rod member. 
     
     
       9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said nut member is a ball nut. 
     
     
       10. The structure of claim 1 wherein said tray and roller moving means comprises, a subframe pivotally mounted on said frame and carrying said tray and roller means, and subframe moving means for pivotally moving said subframe between a first position wherein said roller means is out of engagement with said printing press cylinder and a second position wherein said roller means is in position for engagement with said cylinder. 
     
     
       11. The structure of claim 10 and further including stop means mounted on said subframe in position for engaging the printing press and stopping the pivotal movement of said subframe when said roller means has reached its position for engagement with said cylinder, whereby the coating position of said roller means may be accurately determined. 
     
     
       12. The structure of claim 10 wherein said subframe moving means comprises an air cylinder mounted on said frame having a moving piston operatively connected to said subframe. 
     
     
       13. The structure of claim 4 wherein said frame locking means comprises latch means carried on said frame, keeper means carried by said printing press and means for forcibly moving said latch means into said keeper means when said frame has been moved into a position adjacent said cylinder. 
     
     
       14. The structure of claim 13 wherein said means for forcibly moving said latch means includes at least one piston having a lost motion connection with said latch means, whereby said latch means may be driven by impact into and out of engagement with said keeper means. 
     
     
       15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said latch means includes a pair of latch pins on opposite sides of said frame, and said fluid actuated piston means comprises a pair of pistons, each having a lost motion connection with a respective one of said latch pins, and means for moving said pistons selectively in opposite directions, whereby said latch pins may be simultaneously driven by impact into and out of engagement with said keeper means. 
     
     
       16. In a printing press having a recessed printing press cylinder, a coater for applying a liquid coating material to the printing press cylnder, said coater comprising a frame, a subframe pivotally mounted on said frame and carrying a tray for holding a supply of coating material and roller means for transferring the coating material from said tray to the printing press cylinder, a pair of spaced tracks attached to the printing press and extending from adjacent said printing press cylinder to a point remote from said printing press cylinder, first drive means for moving said frame along said tracks toward and away from a position adjacent said printing press cylinder, means at the pivotal axis of said subframe for locking said frame in its position adjacent said printing press cylinder, whereby the pivotal axis of said subframe will be accurately fixed relative to the press, and second drive means for pivotally moving said roller means into and out of position for engagement with the printing press cylinder after said frame has been moved to and locked in its position adjacent said cylinder, whereby liquid coating material may be picked up from said tray and applied to said printing press cylinder. 
     
     
       17. In a printing press having a recessed printing press cylinder, a coater for applying a liquid coating material to the printing press cylinder, said coater comprising a frame, a tray mounted on said frame for holding a supply of coating material, roller means carried by said frame for transferring coating material from said tray to the printing press cylinder, track means attached to the printing press and extending from adjacent said printing press cylinder to a point remote from said printing press cylinder, frame moving means for moving said frame and said tray and roller means carried thereby along said track means into and out of position adjacent said printing press cylinder, and tray and roller moving means for moving said roller means into and out of position for engagement with the printing press cylinder after said frame has been moved to its position adjacent said cylinder, whereby liquid coating material may be picked up from said tray and applied to said printing press cylinder by said roller means, said frame moving means comprising a pair of internally threaded nut members journalled for rotation on opposite sides of said frame, a pair of spaced parallel externally threaded rods mounted in fixed position relative to said track in threaded engagement with said nut members, and drive means operatively interconnecting said nut members for rotating said nut members in unison relative to said rods selectively in one direction to move said frame along said track means toward said printing press and in the opposite direction to move said frame away from said printing press.